Brain communications最新文献

{"title":"Individualized cortical gyrification in neonates with congenital heart disease.","authors":"Daniel Cromb, Siân Wilson, Alexandra F Bonthrone, Andrew Chew, Christopher Kelly, Manu Kumar, Paul Cawley, Ralica Dimitrova, Tomoki Arichi, J Donald Tournier, Kuberan Pushparajah, John Simpson, Mary Rutherford, Joseph V Hajnal, A David Edwards, Chiara Nosarti, Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh, Serena J Counsell","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae356","DOIUrl":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae356","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Congenital heart disease is associated with impaired early brain development and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study investigated how individualized measures of preoperative cortical gyrification index differ in 142 infants with congenital heart disease, using a normative modelling approach with reference data from 320 typically developing infants. Gyrification index <i>Z</i>-scores for the whole brain and six major cortical areas were generated using two different normative models: one accounting for post-menstrual age at scan, post-natal age at scan and sex, and another additionally accounting for supratentorial brain volume. These <i>Z</i>-scores were compared between congenital heart disease and control groups to test the hypothesis that cortical folding in infants with congenital heart disease deviates from the normal developmental trajectory. The relationships between whole-brain gyrification index <i>Z</i>-scores from the two normative models and both cerebral oxygen delivery and neurodevelopmental outcomes were also investigated. Global and regional brain gyrification was significantly reduced in neonates with congenital heart disease, but not when supratentorial brain volume was accounted for. This finding suggests that whilst cortical folding is reduced in congenital heart disease, it is primarily driven by a reduction in brain size. There was a significant positive correlation between cerebral oxygen delivery and whole-brain gyrification index <i>Z</i>-scores in congenital heart disease, but not when supratentorial brain volume was accounted for. Cerebral oxygen delivery is therefore likely to play a more important role in the biological processes underlying volumetric brain growth than cortical folding. No significant associations between whole-brain gyrification index <i>Z</i>-scores and motor/cognitive outcomes or autism traits were identified in the 70 infants with congenital heart disease who underwent neurodevelopmental assessment at 22-months. Our results suggest that chronic <i>in utero</i> and early post-natal hypoxia in congenital heart disease is associated with reductions in cortical folding that are proportional to reductions in supratentorial brain volume.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11487749/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142483042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical parameters affect the structure and function of superficial pyramidal neurons in the adult human neocortex.","authors":"Maximilian Lenz, Pia Kruse, Amelie Eichler, Jakob Straehle, Hanna Hemeling, Phyllis Stöhr, Jürgen Beck, Andreas Vlachos","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae351","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The interplay between neuronal structure and function underpins the dynamic nature of neocortical networks. Despite extensive studies in animal models, our understanding of structure-function interrelations in the adult human brain remains incomplete. Recent methodological advances have facilitated the functional analysis of individual neurons within the human neocortex, providing a new understanding of fundamental brain processes. However, the factors contributing to patient-specific neuronal properties have not been thoroughly explored. In this observational study, we investigated the structural and functional variability of superficial pyramidal neurons in the adult human neocortex. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and <i>post hoc</i> analyses of dendritic spine morphology in acute neocortical slice preparations from surgical resections of seven patients, we assessed age-related effects on excitatory neurotransmission, membrane properties and dendritic spine morphologies. These results specify age as an endogenous factor that might affect the structural and functional properties of superficial pyramidal neurons.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11518857/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynactin-1 mediates rescue of impaired axonal transport due to reduced mitochondrial bioenergetics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis motor neurons.","authors":"Ruxandra Dafinca, Carlota Tosat-Bitrian, Emily Carroll, Björn F Vahsen, Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo, Jakub Scaber, Emily Feneberg, Errin Johnson, Kevin Talbot","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae350","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae350","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the motor system with complex determinants, including genetic and non-genetic factors. A key pathological signature of ALS is the cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43 in affected motor neurons, which is found in 97% of cases. Recent reports have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS, and TDP-43 modulates several mitochondrial transcripts. In this study, we used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons from ALS patients with TDP-43 mutations and a transgenic TDP-43^M337V mouse model to determine how TDP-43 mutations alter mitochondrial function and axonal transport. We detected significantly reduced mitochondrial respiration and ATP production in patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons, linked to an interaction between TDP-43^M337V with ATPB and COX5A. A downstream reduction in speed of retrograde axonal transport in patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons was detected, which correlated with downregulation of the motor protein complex, DCTN1/dynein. Overexpression of DCTN1 in patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons significantly increased the percentage of retrograde travelling mitochondria and reduced the percentage of stationary mitochondria. This study shows that ALS induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons with mutations in TDP-43 have deficiencies in essential mitochondrial functions with downstream effects on retrograde axonal transport, which can be partially rescued by DCTN1 overexpression.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11495216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142514650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying epileptic networks: every data point brings us a step closer to an optimized surgery.","authors":"John Thomas, Kassem Jaber, Birgit Frauscher","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scientific commentary refers to 'The sixth sense: how much does interictal intracranial EEG add to determining the focality of epileptic networks?', by Gallagher <i>et al</i>. (https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae320).</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11495211/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142514654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Encephalitis lethargica: clinical features and aetiology.","authors":"Jonathan P Rogers, Tomas Mastellari, Alex J Berry, Kieron Kumar, Ella Burchill, Anthony S David, Glyn Lewis, Andrew Lees, Michael S Zandi","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae347","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae347","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Encephalitis lethargica, an epidemic neurological illness, typically involved a severe sleep disorder and progressive parkinsonism. A century later, our understanding relies on seminal descriptions, more recent historical research and the study of small numbers of possible sporadic cases. Theories around infection, environmental toxins, catatonia and autoimmune encephalitis have been proposed. We aimed to describe the presentation of encephalitis lethargica and test these diagnostic and aetiological theories. Subjects with encephalitis lethargica were identified in the archives of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UK between 1918 and 1946. Case notes were examined to establish illness temporality, clinical features and cerebrospinal fluid results. Controls from the archives were identified for 10% of cases, matching on discharge year, sex and neurologist. Clinical presentation was compared to modern diagnostic criteria for encephalitis lethargica, catatonia and autoimmune encephalitis. In a case-control design, a multilevel logistic regression was conducted to ascertain whether cases of encephalitis lethargica were associated with febrile illnesses and with environmental exposures. Six hundred and fourteen cases of encephalitis lethargica and 65 controls were identified. Cases had a median age of 29 years (interquartile range 18) and a median time since symptomatic onset of 3.00 years (interquartile range 3.52). Motor features were present in 97.6%, cranial nerve findings in 91.0%, ophthalmological features in 77.4%, sleep disorders in 66.1%, gastrointestinal or nutritional features in 62.1%, speech disorders in 60.8% and psychiatric features in 53.9%. Of the 167 cases who underwent lumbar puncture, 20 (12.0%) had a pleocytosis. The Howard and Lees criteria for encephalitis lethargica had a sensitivity of 28.5% and specificity of 96.9%. Among the cases, 195 (31.8%, 95% confidence interval 28.1-35.6%) had a history of febrile illness within one calendar year prior to illness onset, which was more common than among the controls (odds ratio 2.70, 95% confidence interval 1.02-7.20, <i>P</i> = 0.05), but there was substantial reporting bias. There was no evidence that occupational exposure to solvents or heavy metals was associated with encephalitis lethargica. Two hundred and seventy-six (45.0%) of the cases might meet criteria for possible autoimmune encephalitis, but only 3 (0.5%) might meet criteria for probable NMDA receptor encephalitis. Only 11 cases (1.8%) met criteria for catatonia. Encephalitis lethargica has a distinct identity as a neuropsychiatric condition with a wide range of clinical features. Evidence for a relationship with infectious or occupational exposures was weak. Autoimmune encephalitis may be an explanation, but typical cases were inconsistent with NMDA receptor encephalitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11495101/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142514651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustained improvements in brain health and metabolic markers 24 months following bariatric surgery.","authors":"Marianne Legault, Mélissa Pelletier, Amélie Lachance, Marie-Ève Lachance, Yashar Zeighami, Marie-Frédérique Gauthier, Sylvain Iceta, Laurent Biertho, Stephanie Fulton, Denis Richard, Alain Dagher, André Tchernof, Mahsa Dadar, Andréanne Michaud","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity and its metabolic complications are associated with lower grey matter and white matter densities, whereas weight loss after bariatric surgery leads to an increase in both measures. These increases in grey and white matter density are significantly associated with post-operative weight loss and improvement of the metabolic/inflammatory profiles. While our recent studies demonstrated widespread increases in white matter density 4 and 12 months after bariatric surgery, it is not clear if these changes persist over time. The underlying mechanisms also remain unknown. In this regard, numerous studies demonstrate that the enlargement or hypertrophy of mature adipocytes, particularly in the visceral fat compartment, is an important marker of adipose tissue dysfunction and obesity-related cardiometabolic abnormalities. We aimed (i) to assess whether the increases in grey and white matter densities previously observed at 12 months are maintained 24 months after bariatric surgery; (ii) to examine the association between these structural brain changes and adiposity and metabolic markers 24 months after bariatric surgery; and (iii) to examine the association between abdominal adipocyte diameter at the time of surgery and post-surgery grey and white matter densities changes. Thirty-three participants undergoing bariatric surgery were recruited. Grey and white matter densities were assessed from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans acquired prior to and 4, 12 and 24 months post-surgery using voxel-based morphometry. Omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were collected during the surgical procedure. Omental and subcutaneous adipocyte diameters were measured by microscopy of fixed adipose tissue samples. Linear mixed-effects models were performed controlling for age, sex, surgery type, initial body mass index, and initial diabetic status. The average weight loss at 24 months was 33.6 ± 7.6%. A widespread increase in white matter density was observed 24 months post-surgery mainly in the cerebellum, brainstem and corpus callosum (<i>P</i> < 0.05, false discovery rate) as well as some regions in grey matter density. Greater omental adipocyte diameter at the time of surgery was associated with greater changes in total white matter density at 24 months (<i>P</i> = 0.008). A positive trend was observed between subcutaneous adipocyte diameter at the time of surgery and changes in total white matter density at 24 months (<i>P</i> = 0.05). Our results show prolonged increases in grey and white matter densities up to 24 months post-bariatric surgery. Greater preoperative omental adipocyte diameter is associated with greater increases in white matter density at 24 months, suggesting that individuals with excess visceral adiposity might benefit the most from surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11472827/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142483048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical correlates of dopamine transporter availability in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies with [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET: independent validation with new insights.","authors":"Praveen Honhar, Faranak Ebrahimian Sadabad, Sule Tinaz, Jean-Dominique Gallezot, Mark Dias, Mika Naganawa, Yanghong Yang, Shannan Henry, Ansel T Hillmer, Hong Gao, Soheila Najafzadeh, Robert Comley, Nabeel Nabulsi, Yiyun Huang, Sjoerd J Finnema, Richard E Carson, David Matuskey","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae345","DOIUrl":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae345","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET is a promising alternative to single positron emission computed tomography-based dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging in Parkinson's disease. While the excellent discriminative power of [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET has been established, so far only one study has reported meaningful associations between motor severity scores and DAT availability. In this study, we use high-resolution (∼3 mm isotropic) PET to provide an independent validation for the clinical correlates of [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I imaging in separate cross-sectional (28 participants with Parkinson's disease, Hoehn-Yahr: 2 and 14 healthy individuals) and longitudinal (initial results from 6 participants with Parkinson's disease with 2-year follow-up) cohorts. In the cross-sectional cohort, DAT availability in the putamen and substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease showed a significant negative association with total motor severity (<i>r</i> = -0.59, <i>P</i> = 0.002 for putamen; <i>r</i> = -0.46, <i>P</i> = 0.018 for substantia nigra), but not tremor severity. To our knowledge, this is the first observed association between motor severity in Parkinson's disease and DAT availability in the substantia nigra. The associations with motor severity in most nigrostriatal regions improved if tremor scores were excluded from motor scores. Further, we found significant asymmetry in DAT availability in the putamen (∼28% lower DAT availability within the more-affected side of the putamen), and DAT-based asymmetry index for the putamen was correlated with asymmetry in motor severity (<i>r</i> = -0.60, <i>P</i> = 0.001). In the longitudinal study, [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET detected significant annual percentage reduction of DAT availability at the individual level in the putamen (9.7 ± 2.6%), caudate (10.5 ± 3.8%) and ventral striatum (5.5 ± 2.7%), but not the substantia nigra. Longitudinal per cent reduction in DAT availability within the putamen was strongly associated with increase in motor severity (<i>r</i> = 0.91, <i>P</i> = 0.011) at follow-up, demonstrating the high sensitivity of [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET in tracking longitudinal changes. These results provide further evidence for the utility of [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I as an important <i>in vivo</i> PET biomarker in future clinical trials of Parkinson's disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11487911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142483039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sudden death in epilepsy: the overlap between cardiac and neurological factors.","authors":"Nathan A Shlobin, Roland D Thijs, David G Benditt, Katja Zeppenfeld, Josemir W Sander","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae309","DOIUrl":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People with epilepsy are at risk of premature death, of which sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), sudden cardiac death (SCD) and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) are the primary, partly overlapping, clinical scenarios. We discuss the epidemiologies, risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms for these sudden death events. We reviewed the existing evidence on sudden death in epilepsy. Classification of sudden death depends on the presence of autopsy and expertise of the clinician determining aetiology. The definitions of SUDEP, SCD and SADS lead to substantial openings for overlap. Seizure-induced arrhythmias constitute a minority of SUDEP cases. Comorbid cardiovascular conditions are the primary determinants of increased SCD risk in chronic epilepsy. Genetic mutations overlap between the states, yet whether these are causative, associated or incidentally present is often unclear. Risk stratification for sudden death in people with epilepsy requires a multidisciplinary approach, including a review of clinical history, toxicological analysis and complete autopsy with histologic and, preferably, genetic examination. We recommend pursuing genetic testing of relatives of people with epilepsy who died suddenly, mainly if a post-mortem genetic test contained a Class IV/V (pathogenic/likely pathogenic) gene variant. Further research may allow more precise differentiation of SUDEP, SCD and SADS and the development of algorithms for risk stratification and preventative strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11443455/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142362492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The oculomotor microcosm.","authors":"Chrystalina A Antoniades","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae337","DOIUrl":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae337","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scientific commentary refers to 'Noradrenergic modulation of saccades in Parkinson's disease', by  Orlando <i>et al</i>. (https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae297).</p>","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11503948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142514657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural and functional brain markers of cognitive impairment in healthcare workers following mild SARS-CoV-2 infection during the original stream.","authors":"Javier J González-Rosa, María P Gómez-Molinero, Elena Lozano-Soto, Silvia P Fernández-Rosa, Marina Campos-Silvo, María Paula García-Rodríguez, Fátima Cano-Cano, Florencia Sanmartino, Raúl Rashid-López, Paloma Macías-García, Jaime D Gómez-Ramírez, Raúl Espinosa-Rosso, José Paz-Espósito, Rocío Gómez-Molinero, Lucía Forero, Álvaro J Cruz-Gómez","doi":"10.1093/braincomms/fcae340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae340","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection often involves the nervous system, leading to cognitive dysfunctions, fatigue and many other neurological signs that are becoming increasingly recognized. Despite mild forms of the disease accounting for most cases worldwide, research on the pathophysiology driving mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has received little attention. In this respect, recent evidence has pointed out that around 30-40% of non-critical, mild-to-moderate severity COVID-19 survivors may display cognitive disturbances several months post-illness. Hence, the impact of COVID-19 on the brain structure and function, through potential neuropathological mechanisms underpinning cognitive alterations in post-mild COVID-19 infections, remains largely unexplored. This retrospective multicentre observational cohort study, entirely based on a healthcare worker sample (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 65; 55% females, aged 21-61), investigated the cognitive status and the structural and functional brain integrity among non-hospitalized individuals who developed mild COVID-19 symptoms during the occurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants Alpha to Delta, compared with healthy controls tested before the pandemic onset. All evaluations were performed at an average of 9-month follow-up post-infection period. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and structural and functional MRI exams. Radiological inspection sought to detect the presence of white matter hyperintensities on axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Global and regional grey matter integrity assessment, analysing changes in grey matter volumes and cortical thinning, and functional connectivity alterations of resting-state brain networks were also conducted. Regression analyses tested the relationships between the presence of specific cognitive impairments and potential structural and functional brain findings. Our results revealed that clinical, cognitive screening and neuropsychological examinations were average between both groups, except for specific impairments related to executive functions in the mild COVID-19. Compared to healthy controls, mild COVID-19 subjects exhibited increased juxtacortical white matter hyperintensities, thalamic and occipital volume loss and diminished resting-state functional connectivity involving the left precuneus and cuneus in default-mode network and affecting the right angular gyrus and left precuneus in the dorsal attentional network. Reduced thalamic volume was the only variable selected in the final model explaining the observed executive function impairment in mild COVID-19. The presence of cognitive, structural and functional brain abnormalities over time suggests that the action of widespread neurovascular and inflammatory phenomena on the nervous system might also occur in mild forms following COVID-19 infection rather than permanent brain damage linked to the direct or","PeriodicalId":93915,"journal":{"name":"Brain communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11481020/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142483047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}